Giant cell arteritis

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Giant cell arteritis (abbreviated GCA), also known as temporal arteritis, is a type of large vessel vasculitis.

Giant cell arteritis
Diagnosis in short

Giant cell arteritis. H&E stain.

Synonyms temporal arteritis

LM large artery with intramural inflammatory cells (often granulomatous); destruction of arterial wall, i.e. fibrinoid necrosis (pink anucleate arterial wall)
Site large blood vessels - see vasculitides

Clinical history patient older than 50 years
Signs loss of vision, weight loss, chills, fever
Symptoms headache, double vision, scalp tenderness
Prevalence uncommon
Blood work ESR elevated
Prognosis good if treated
Clin. DDx other causes of headache
Treatment steroids

General

  • Classically afflicts the temporal artery.

Clinical features:

  • Classic finding: jaw claudication, in a patient older than 50 years.
  • Other findings: headache, vision loss or diplopia, scalp tenderness, polymyalgia, weight loss, chills, fever.

Work-up:

  • CRP, ESR, temporal artery biopsy.
    • ESR normal (>50 years old): <20 mm/hr males, <30 mm/hr females.[1]

Treatment:

  • Treat right away with high dose steroids.
    • Biopsy is confirmatory.

Microscopic

Features:

  • Artery with intramural inflammatory cells.
  • Destruction of arterial wall, e.g. fibrinoid necrosis (pink anucleate arterial wall).

Images

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Negative

TEMPORAL ARTERY, LEFT, BIOPSY:
- MEDIUM SIZE ARTERY WITHOUT PATHOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS, SEE COMMENT.

COMMENT:
A negative biopsy does not rule out the possibility of giant cell (temporal) 
arteritis, as this may be a focal disorder. The clinical management is 
dependent upon the clinical impression.

See also

References